Sunday, June 07, 2009

First Minister Alex Salmond admits he's not 'whiter than white' over Westminster expenses scandal as questions arise over £800 food allowance claims

Alex_Salmond smileScotland's First Minister Alex Salmond blamed expensive food allowance claims on William Wallace events. Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond who is also an MP at Westminster, been sucked into the expenses scandal at the House of Commons in London, with revelations Mr Salmond had claimed £800 for food expenses for two months, while the Parliament was actually in summer recess.

Mr Salmond, speaking on BBC radio last week, did not give specifics to callers on his expenses claims, choosing to blame attending William Wallace commemoration events as one of the reasons for the large food claims. Mr Salmond continued, saying he was "quite happy to go before an independent audit" but admitted no one including himself could claim they were "whiter than white" in the expenses scandal.

First Minister Alex Salmond on £800 food claims admits "I'm not whiter than white" in expenses scandal.

nigel_donThe SNP's Nigel Don embarked on a series of property deals to get Holyrood to pay his mortgage. While the First Minister claimed on BBC Radio that no one within the SNP had been 'house flipping' to claim thousands of pounds from the taxpayer on second homes, recent revelations over Nigel Don's property deals to secure £688 a month from the taxpayer to pay his mortgage, despite receiving a salary of £55,381. It is worth noting that Mr Don is also Parliamentary assistant to Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, and is also a member of Holyrood’s Petitions Committee, where recently Mr Don’s remarks on an access to justice petition ‘constituted disinformation’ as some pointed out at the time.

I wrote about Mr Don’s mortgage arrangements and work on the Petitions Committee in an earlier article here : Influencing Justice reforms in Scotland worth ‘price of a mortgage allowance’ as MacAskill's ministerial aide gets £688 a month to fund capital flat

christine_grahameChristine Grahame, the SNP’s MSP for South Scotland claimed a staggering £26,465 for ‘stationery’. Another example of huge expenses claims at Holyrood surfaced recently with revelations the SNP’s Christine Grahame claimed a staggering £26,465 for postage and stationery, while other politicians from the Tories and Liberal Democrats representing the same area claimed ‘significantly less’ sums. You can read more about MSPs stationery claims here : Scottish Parliament : Christine Grahame’s £26k stationery expenses claim on 'consultations'

Currently, up to 28 MSPs at the Scottish Parliament, 12 of that number being SNP MSPs and 6 of those being Cabinet Ministers in the Scottish Government, including the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, John Swinney, are claiming mortgage interest payments of up to £1000 a month from the Scottish taxpayer to pay for their second homes in Edinburgh. This state of affairs could hardly be described as being ‘whiter than white’ – Scottish MSPs collectively claiming millions of pounds from the taxpayer in expenses while themselves claiming they are a model for transparency & accountability compared to their colleagues caught up in the Westminster expenses scandal.

You can read more about the Scottish Parliament’s own expenses milking scandal here : An extra £2m for MSPs at Holyrood while Westminster’s reputation withers in expenses scandal

Many MSPs have ensured they have not been outdone by their Westminster counterparts in expenses claims, in examples I have previously covered here : Scottish MSPs get in on the act of expenses milking too

david_mcletchieEx Tory leader & lawyer David McLetchie was brought down over huge taxi expenses claims. The Scottish Conservatives, who have raised the issue of the First Minister’s food expenses, have themselves suffered expenses scandals, which led to the resignation of David McLetchie as the Scottish Conservative Party leader, after revelations he claimed more than £11,500 for taxi journeys ‘into the unknown’, some of the destinations being revealed later as his law office at Tods Murray, and a few trips to Morningside …. You can read more of the McLetchie scandal here : McLetchie taxi details revealed

It is also worth noting that while the Liberal Democrats in England have been told to pay back any Capital Gains Tax on profits made by selling properties funded by taxpayers, the Scottish end of the party, seems to have a different policy for its members, as has been covered in the media here : LibDems leader Tavish Scott refuses to reveal capital gains tax payments on property profits

Lets also not forget that Scottish politicians were also recently caught for even claiming wreaths from the taxpayer, reported last month here : Scottish Parliament MSPs 'as crooked Westminster' claimed expenses for funeral wreaths

What is so disgusting to me, is that while there are people including children literally begging for cancer or other medical treatments to their local NHS Trusts throughout the country, only to be told there is either no money to pay for it, or that they are in the wrong postcode, politicians from all political parties, including the SNP are able to basically claim for what they want. A thoroughly disgusting situation which no honest decent person can defend.

How could a politician, already being paid over £70,000 plus, justify they deserve £800 for food, or £14,000 to clean moss off the front of their house, while, say, a 14 year old child cannot get a life saving course of medication simply because they live in the wrong area or their own health board has run out of money. That HAS to be an affront to humanity, politicians putting money and self gain before the lives of constituents while having such a huge salary for allegedly representing our interests.

Indeed the caller in the radio show who questioned Mr Salmond on his food expenss may well be right when he said “All you politicians are in it to line your own pockets”.That much is true – they certainly do, but it must now stop, and we the electorate must hold all politicians to account for their actions of lining their own pockets, no matter which party they are from.

The Sunday Herald reports :

Fresh challenge to Salmond over London meals claims

By Tom Gordon, Scottish Political Editor

ALEX SALMOND is facing fresh accusations over his expenses as an MP, after the Conservatives proved he was out of London for several weeks during the whole period for which he submitted maximum claims for meals from the House of Commons.

The first minister claimed the monthly £400 maximum for both August and September 2005, despite Westminster being in summer recess.

Salmond has repeatedly refused to publish his diaries for the months, dismissing suggestions the claims were unjustified as "laughable".

Last week, he told a BBC Radio Scotland phone-in: "I was in London in recess in 2005. MPs often go to London. They were all legitimate Parliamentary claims."

But the Scottish Tories last night produced a list culled from SNP press releases and newspapers showing Salmond was in Scotland on at least 22 of the 61 days in question. His eight August engagements included Robin Cook's funeral, a cricket match in Edinburgh, a gala in Rhynie, an art exhibition in Banff, and a constituent's 100th birthday in Portsoy.

The following month he was in Scotland for at least a fortnight, campaigning in the Livingston and Cathcart by-elections, and attending the SNP conference in Aviemore.

Salmond's spokesman said the first minister had never stated he was in London all the time, and suggested some of the claims might refer to days when parliament was sitting.

Besides claiming £400 for food in August and September, Salmond also claimed the maximum for six other months in 2005-06, a total of £3200. He also claimed £1751 for food in 2007-08, when he was first minister, despite voting on only six days in the Commons.

Annabel Goldie, the Scots Tory leader, last night wrote to Salmond urging him to publish his diaries. She said: "I am asking him to be open and transparent with the taxpayers about his Westminster expenses. He claimed the maximum food allowance of £800 for August and September 2005, but there are doubts over how much time he actually spent in London during that period that would justify such a large claim.

"I hope for the sake of the Scottish Parliament he takes this opportunity to clear up any lingering doubt."

Salmond has been the MP for Banff and Buchan since 1987 and is also the MSP for Gordon.

The continuing row over his Commons expenses comes as a fresh review of the MSP expenses system begins at Holyrood.

Sir Neil McIntosh is to examine whether "key elements of the scheme could be expected to continue to command public confidence".

Although praised as more transparent than Westminster, the Holyrood scheme still allows MSPs to keep all profit from the sale of second homes funded by the taxpayer.

Last month, the Sunday Herald revealed 28 MSPs currently claiming mortgage interest would make around £2 million profit if they sold up.

A Holyrood source said the McIntosh review, which will report by December, was aimed squarely at closing the second homes loophole. Tavish Scott, the Scottish LibDems leader, who would make a £120,000 profit on his second home, is under fresh attack over "despicable" expense claims by his MSPs.

Peter Nield, a LibDem councillor in Angus, resigned from the party in disgust at Scott's failure to discipline four LibDems who claimed for Remembrance Day poppy wreaths.

Although all agreed to repay the money after the claims were publicised, Nield said that was "irrelevant".

Now sitting as an independent, he said of Scott: "When a party leader is so out of touch with society he does nothing to reprimand those responsible, it is a step too far for me. It is despicable MSPs on good salaries and generous expenses claim back Remembrance Day poppies as expenses."

A LibDem spokesman described Nield's decision as "disappointing".

In a statement, Salmond said he was "entirely confident" about his expenses. "I was in London in both August and September, securing an unfurnished rented flat and other engagements, and during that period also paid bills from the Commons refreshment department incurred during the parliamentary session."

***

Council expenses cost taxpayer £3m Argyll and Bute Scotland's most expensive authority By Tom Gordon, Scottish Political Editor

SCOTLAND'S councillors claimed more than £3 million in expenses last year on top of £22.4m in salaries, according to new official figures. In recent days, all 32 local authorities were forced by law to publish councillors' salaries and expenses for 2008-09, showing spending on travel, accommodation, meals, phones and IT.

Analysis by the Sunday Herald shows that the average expenses claimed per councillor ranged from £325 in the country's smallest authority, Clackmannanshire, to £6004 per head in the largest, Argyll and Bute. The Scottish average was £2486.

Under a complicated remuneration formula, all 1222 councillors earned a basic salary of at least £15,000, with more for those in bigger councils and those with special responsibilities, such as committee chairs, and provosts.

The most expensive council in terms of salaries was the City of Edinburgh, with its 58 members taking home an average £21,079 in pay.

The least expensive was Moray, with its 26 members earning an average salary of £17,314. The average across the country was £18,351.

Overall, the most expensive council, including salaries and expenses, was Argyll and Bute, run by a coalition of Independents and the SNP. Its 36 councillors cost an average of £24,088. With 25 inhabited islands covering the largest geographical area of any council, their expense claims included £152,974 on mileage and £10,703 on ferry fares.

The least expensive was Labour-run Inverclyde, whose 20 members each cost £18,128 overall. Across Scotland, the average councillor cost £20,837.

Despite outnumbering them 10 to one, the councillors expense claims came to less than a third of those made by MSPs.

The highest expenses claim was made by the SNP's Donald Manford, chairman of the transportation committee in the Western Isles, whose £20,081 claim was larger than his £17,819 salary - it included £11,740 in travel and £5300 in subsistence claims.

In contrast, several dozen councillors around the country claimed no expenses at all.

Argyll and Bute said its unique geography contributed to high costs. A spokeswoman said: "We have very strict controls on what can be claimed as expenses, and in what circumstances claims can be authorised.

"Receipts are required not only for subsistence or accommodation claims, but also for fuel ...

"Councillor remuneration is fixed by the government by statutory order, not by councils themselves. Mileage rate is also fixed by government."

Robert McGill, the deputy leader of Labour-run Clackmannanshire council, said: "We are looking to offer value for money to our constituents. It's important that local people trust their council and the expenses are all itemised and accounted for."

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the umbrella body which represents all of the country's 32 councils, said: "Scotland's democratically elected councillors offer extremely good value for money.

"Councils put a real value on the public pound and therefore operate extremely well controlled systems around expenses for councillors.

"All expenditure rightly needs to be proven and would include things like the cost of mobile phone calls, IT and the sort of other businesslike necessities being a democratically elected member committed to representing communities entails."

50 comments:

Anonymous said...

A less than convincing explanation from Saint Alex of Assisi but with the opposition composed of lower-than-primate lifeforms who would replace him ?

Anonymous said...

"How could a politician, already being paid over £70,000 plus, justify they deserve £800 for food, or £14,000 to clean moss off the front of their house, while, say, a 14 year old child cannot get a life saving course of medication simply because they live in the wrong area or their own health board has run out of money."

Putting it like that - Yes.Actually I now hate politicians as much as I hate lawyers after reading that.God - if you are reading this please rid us of all this scum so we can live in peace.

McSweens Haggis said...

LOL !

William Wallace died in 1305 (700 years ago) and that's the reason Salmond claimed £800 in food ???

Just cant make that stuff up ! He should repay it and resign as an MP to concentrate on Scotland.After all grub is much cheaper up here but still no reason to loot taxpayers for lining his own belly !

Anonymous said...

EVERY POLITICIAN IS A CROOK !
THIS COUNTRY WILL NEVER PROGRESS WITH CROOKS LIKE THESE !

CLAIMING £26000 FOR STAMPS IS A BLOODY DISGRACE TOO SACK THE LOT OF THEM NOW

Anonymous said...

Didnt know you wrote so much about politics but I like your stuff Peter.

Its a pity for Scotland there are so many people we think we can rely on turn out to be little more than crooked in the end just like all those you write about in the legal world.I wonder if it will ever end but at least people such as you and the newspapers keep on top of them.

Good work and I liked the video clip ! Whoever is speaking to Mr Salmond is right on the money with everything he said.

Anonymous said...

Oh dear.It sounds like the FM has been on the fiddle.He might just have to resign like he keeps harping on others should do !

Anonymous said...

Quite a fair posting I thought but you have completely shattered my faith in Salmond with that You Tube clip.

What do you suggest is done now we have the First Minister on the expenses take ?

Anonymous said...

Christine Grahame and Nigel Don must go - but no chance of that with Salmond at the helm.

It appears that the Lib-Dems have also learned a few dirty tricks from their time in partnership with Labour.

Scotland has no honest politicians so look elsewhere said...

Yes the video clip says it all.Salmond is a bloody liar just like all the other politicians.
The most he can do now is hand back the money and go and go from First Minister too because he has brought shame on us.
lets see the SNP rip themselves apart in a leadership contest with all the backstabbing and name calling we are used to from these kinds of people

Anonymous said...

Salmond will be out spinning the snp's euro election result tomorrow to cover this up but too late mister the cat is out of the bag and we know what you are all about along with the rest of your party

Grahame and Don claiming mortgages and 26K for paper is disgusting they have to pay it back and go

Anonymous said...

The newspaper report is all a bit tedious but I agree with those who say the clip says it all about Salmond.

Definitely not to be trusted now.Once they lie or are caught with their fingers in the till thats it - you have to get rid of them or it just goes from bad to worse.

Anonymous said...

"Currently, up to 28 MSPs at the Scottish Parliament, 12 of that number being SNP MSPs and 6 of those being Cabinet Ministers in the Scottish Government, including the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, John Swinney, are claiming mortgage interest payments of up to £1000 a month from the Scottish taxpayer to pay for their second homes in Edinburgh."

Robbers.

Anonymous said...

“All you politicians are in it to line your own pockets”.That much is true – they certainly do, but it must now stop, and we the electorate must hold all politicians to account for their actions of lining their own pockets, no matter which party they are from.

Yes Peter they are, if they set the rules, they will bag the cash. Self regulation means help yourself.

Anonymous said...

This is the reason I will not vote now none of these crooks deserve our vote and they should all be chucked out of their jobs
If I had done what Alex did I would have been charged found guilty and sent to jail but all he does is get off the hook and blame it on work.
They are all rubbish

Anonymous said...

Expensive councillors too so its time to get rid of some of them
What do they do anyway ? just another bunch of wasters leeching off the rest of us

Diary of Injustice said...

Thanks for all your comments - I certainly agree the First Minister could have done better on this one .. it is a bit of a let down for Scotland to say the least, but as another comment at 10.59pm points out, this is again, all down to self regulation, which I agree means "help yourself" - as politicians all over the UK are now demonstrating very well.

I hope readers will also note that many of the expenses milkers are either supporters of self regulation or through their voting records (with perhaps the exception of John Swinney) are allies of the legal profession in one way or another ...

A curious mix of self protection and lining their own pockets at our expense .. something the legal profession has managed to do, with the help of many politicians now being shamed, for years.

Time for change ?

Anonymous said...

Well you had a good go at them all Peter and in my book they deserve to be thrown over the side so I totally agree with you.

While I read your blog I am watching the European Election results on BBC2 and Alex Salmond is there in his normal self-congratulatory mode telling us how the vote swing from Labour is a great endorsement of the SNP but with a 28% turnout I'd hardly say there is any validity to the vote which is the electorate's fault for sitting on their behinds.

Personally I think things with these politicians are about to get a lot more crooked so keep watching and writing about it !

Anonymous said...

Your point they are all as bad as each other is well taken and I do agree with you Salmond's conduct is a bit of a letdown for us.

Maybe he can put it all right by paying the money back and getting his colleagues to do the same ?

Anonymous said...

no matter where you are kid politicians are universally corrupt and yours are no exception
get used to it

Anonymous said...

"How could a politician, already being paid over £70,000 plus, justify they deserve £800 for food, or £14,000 to clean moss off the front of their house, while, say, a 14 year old child cannot get a life saving course of medication simply because they live in the wrong area or their own health board has run out of money."

THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE, THOSE WHO MAKE THE RULES ARE GOOD TO THEMSELVES. REMEMBER THIS IS A MAN WHO IS AGAINST LEGAL REFORMS BECAUSE IT IS IN HIS INTEREST TO KEEP THINGS THE WAY THEY ARE.

THAT'S WHY HE APPOINTED A LAWYER TO THE POSITION OF JUSTICE MINISTER. ALEX SALMOND LIKE ALL MP's MSP's DOES NOT CARE ABOUT KIDS WITHOUT PROPER MEDICATION, POLITICIANS LINE THEIR POCKETS, THE BEST PENSIONS, GOOD SALARIES. WHO WOULD WANT THIS GUY IN CHARGE OF AN INDEPENDENT SCOTLAND, HE WOULD WANT EXPENSES TO BUY A CASTLE. £800.00 FOR FOOD, NO WONDER HE IS A FAT LITTLE BUGGER.

Anonymous said...

AOL NEWS

The British National Party has won its first two seats in the European Parliament.

The far right party's leader Nick Griffin picked up a seat in the North West of England region.

And Andrew Brons won a seat in the Yorkshire and Humber region, where Labour lost a seat.

The wins came as the party appeared to attract significant numbers of disaffected Labour voters.
-----------------------------------
In Germany after the 1st World War Hitler raved about the unfairness of the Treaty of Versailles, which made the Germans pay for starting the war. He was correct about this treaty. The Nazi's were helped into power, by the great depression, because people saw no alternative. The majority did not understand how much of a monster he was, they just wanted change.

While BNP gains cannot be compared to the above directly, the fact remains that some voters will go to the far right because they believe the solution to their problems cannot be provided by mainstream parties.
The expenses scandal and the economic downturn are the catalyst for what has happened here.

Anonymous said...

AOL NEWS

Gordon Brown's political survival is hanging in the balance as Labour suffered a devastating rout in the European elections. (NO SURPRISE THERE).

The party was beaten into third place by the UK Independence Party (Ukip) in the popular vote while the far right British National Party achieved a major breakthrough gaining their first Euro seats. (MORE TIME TO SPEND WITH THE WIFE GORDON).

The scale of the defeat could be the catalyst for rebel Labour backbenchers manoeuvring to oust Mr Brown to come out into the open and launch a direct leadership challenge. (WILL WE SEE A LABOUR VERSION OF THE GEOFFREY HOWE POLITICAL ASSASINATION SPEECH)? THE SWORD IS GETTING SHARPER GORDON.

Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman rejected calls for Mr Brown to step down in the wake of the results. (LIKE THE BLACK WIDOW SPIDER) She said she was "very disappointed indeed" by Labour's results but she insisted Mr Brown was the right person to lead the country through the economic downturn and clean up the MPs' expenses system.

YOU MUST HAVE EXPECTED THIS HARRIET?
GORDON YOUR CREW WANT YOU TO ABANDON SHIP, BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE YOU WILL TAKE THEM INTO THE POLITICAL WILDERNESS WITH YOU. (WHY ARE THEY SO PESSIMISTIC?) THERE IS A LIFEBOAT WITH YOUR NAME ON IT GORDON. JUST LIKE THATCHER YOUR DOWNFALL IN IMMINENT. THE RATS ON THE BACKBENCHES WILL MUTINY SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

Anonymous said...

We politicians make the rules, so that we can screw the system.

This is self regulation.

Anonymous said...

HAMILTON ADVERTISER MARCH 2008

Our greedy politicians deserve to be despised

Mar 20 2008

It is no wonder that politicians detest the media, and newspapers in particular, for they have been the reason for the exposure of our elected representatives’ greed and corruption over the last few years.

Indeed if it had not been for the good work of newspaper journalism in particular (including the Advertiser), they would still be getting away with highway robbery in what they do for themselves in terms of substantial perks.

Now we see that because the media have rumbled them, our politicians want an increase of £40,000 to compensate them for their loss of an excessive and unacceptable expenses regime.

I once thought our politicians were honourable people who went into politics for the people’s benefit solely, and not their own. I now see that this whole thinking has been turned upside down.

Indeed, with such bigoted people in politics now (on all sides), the people of this country have no real chance of solving their future problems.

Everyone should watch the forthcoming media documentary ‘Life after People’ (History Channel) on Easter Sunday at 9pm to see this clearly.

Long may the free press live, I say, for only through this mechanism of majority truth can the people ever be able to take the necessary steps to avoid the catastrophes that our present, over-indulgent politicians create for us (and future generations to come).

Dr David Hill, World Innovation Foundation Charity, letter sent by e-mail. WELL SAID DR HILL.

Salmond: "I'm not whiter than white" ... we know! said...

Great article as always Peter. I'm sure you won't be on King Alex's food hamper list this Christmas!

Keep it up ... formidable injustice campaigner!

Aye.

http://shirleymckie.myfastforum.org/sutra3572.php#3572

Anonymous said...

Politicians only see life from the top. They should try living on unemployment benefit, struggle to pay bills, get letter after letter from companies stating, "you have not been selected for interview" We cannot claim expenses for anything, while they claim for everything. Employing relatives should also be illegal, it is morally wrong in politics.

William Wallace would have sacked the Scottish Government. Salmonds head would have been on a pole. He was a patriot, not a money grabbing parasite like our elected representatives. Those who make the rules are kind to themselves. As you say Peter it is time for change. This cannot continue.

Anonymous said...

You said "I hope readers will also note that many of the expenses milkers are either supporters of self regulation or through their voting records (with perhaps the exception of John Swinney) are allies of the legal profession in one way or another ..."

I thought that might be the case anyway but just checking through a few of the names you mention it seems you are correct once again Peter.
Expenses thieves seem to have ties to the legal or banking professions.What a strange coincidence !

Anonymous said...

must be great for them getting their food stationery mortgage and every bloody thing else paid by us

sack the lot and start again they are just a pack of vultures feeding off us

Anonymous said...

salmond and his greedy pack of vultures make me physically sick now i will never vote snp

pay back OUR money you vultures and buy your stamps at the post office like the rest of us

politicians are vultures

Diary of Injustice said...

Thanks for all your comments & emails - keep them coming in.

I certainly agree with everything that has been said so far, particularly including Anonymous @ 8.03am and Anonymous @ 11.29am

Indeed, William Wallace was a patriot and not of the likes we currently have to suffer as our political leaders. Shame on them for taking his name to justify their expenses fiddling, that basically amounts to stealing from the taxpayer.

I think we are now beginning to understand what Kenny MacAskill meant when he said the SNP owe the Scottish legal profession a great debt, which you can listen & watch for yourselves, here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFCu66wdfFE

Anonymous said...

I dont know who is worse Salmond or MacAskill

Who the hell could spend £800 on food and what person in their right mind would say that about owing a debt to lawyers ?

They are both DISGUSTING I will never vote snp ever.

Anonymous said...

I saw the SNP celebrating getting more of their members into highly paid expenses ridden MEP positions this morning.Sick isn't it.I used to think the SNP were different but not now.they are just the same as the rest when it comes to living off our backs

Anonymous said...

Salmond finally caught lying just like the rest and how come Nigel Don and Christine Grahame are getting to claim as much ?

They should be made to pay it all back every penny.

Anonymous said...

Well Well Well ! I think Peter is onto something here !

Nigel Don - Friend of the legal profession by looks of his voting record and what he comes out with.

Christine Grahame - Former Lawyer ! (impossible to be a former lawyer !)

Salmond - Blocks any attempt to reform bent lawyers or self regulation - must be a friend (or is that FIEND) of lawyers !

McLetchie - A LAWYER IF EVER THERE WAS ONE !

MacAskill - A LAWYER WHO NEVER WAS ANYTHING ELSE !

Westminster just as bad I see - look at all the MPs who are standing down or are in the headlines - OVER HALF OF THEM ARE LAWYERS OR ACCOUNTANTS !

Damn I think we need to put restrictions on who actually enters politics - these bloody robbing lawyers and accountants come in and line their pockets while telling the rest of us to sod off.

Yes its definitely time for change Peter ! Time to throw all these robbers onto the garbage heap !!!

Anonymous said...

Its a good thing you have the clip because I found Salmond and the rest of them were losing us on the tv reporting of it.

His own words shame him - you can just tell he is lying and I remember McLetchie on camera saying much the same.Liars the lot of them.

Anonymous said...

Clip says it all as other say and they should be made to hand back the money or at least give it all to Charity.

Disgusting really the lot of them and no exceptions SNP Conservative Labour LibDemocrats all out out out you go

Anonymous said...

I was going to say it makes a change from crooked lawyers but most crooked politicians are probably lawyers themselves !

Good work keep it up mate :)

Anonymous said...

Money corrupts everyone and unfortunately Salmond is just the same now as all the rest.Interesting the long list of excuses he gives in the clip though.I doubt any of them are true.

Diary of Injustice said...

Thanks for your continued comments.

As others have said I do feel all this money claimed by MSPs or MPs should be paid back. The fact is the country and the public at large need it and deserve it more than they do.

Politicians in this country have drifted away from their duty of representing the community at large, they have it seems, chosen to represent their own pockets instead, and I single out no one political party, because as the evidence shows, they are all at it.

Mr Salmond could make a start by paying the money to charity, and ordering his colleagues to do the same, as well as hand back these extortionate expenses claims for better use ... if not, then it must be the case that worship of money comes before caring of the community at large.

Anonymous said...

These criminals have no shame. When so many have lost their job's Salmond lines his wallet and belly. Crooked little bastard.

Anonymous said...

I have never known a profession to be hated so much as lawyers.

Anonymous said...

Mr Salmond could make a start by paying the money to charity, and ordering his colleagues to do the same, as well as hand back these extortionate expenses claims for better use

Brilliant Idea Peter.If he doesn't do at least that then there is something very wrong with his values !

Anonymous said...

Salmond and Longshanks should have been contemporaries, both greedy, consumed by their own self importance. Wallace would have executed both of them, as they are both enemies of Scotland.

Anonymous said...

The immediate threat to Gordon Brown's survival seems to have receded after a mass "peasants revolt" of backbenchers failed to materialise.

Oh Gordon, the fuse is lit and sooner or later a stalking horse will throw their hat into the arena, triggering a challenge to your premiership. Self interest from the rats on the backbenches, will ensure your demise is imminent.

The SS New Labour is sinking, politics is in the gutter, a mutiny is being planned below decks and the far right are on the up and up. What a bloody mess the country is in. It will take a lot more than Gordon's scalp to sort this mess out.

Anonymous said...

I dont beleive a word Salmond said in that clip
What a mess for a First minister to get himself into

Anonymous said...

"Indeed, William Wallace was a patriot and not of the likes we currently have to suffer as our political leaders. Shame on them for taking his name to justify their expenses fiddling, that basically amounts to stealing from the taxpayer".

YES PETER, THEY MAKE THEY RULES, THEY ROB US.

Anonymous said...

Peter clearly we have a situation as you have pointed out that, these people sit on each others committees to prevent any justice for their victims.
Lawyers, doctors, politicians, accountants, the people who legislate are in bed with the decision makers to control the financial side of things.

Lawyers and accountants rob people of their inheritance, doctors and lawyers cover up what colleagues do to patients and clients, and the victims need lawyers to obtain legal rights. This system is in the 19th century, a protection racket that these people want to maintain.
I know a woman who had incapacity benefits stopped by her doctor because that doctor was lying to the court in her medical records. He had to stop her case getting to court because she would have found out he was lying. Her family supported her, and her lawyer did not respond to her requests for help, but he was still sending letters and getting Legal Aid. They worked together to starve her into submission to save their insurers.
You are right in what you are doing, people have no rights against a corrupt system where the professionals belong behind bars, many of them not fit to practice. Self regulation protects professionals who belong in Barlinnie. We fight on. Best wishes.

Diary of Injustice said...

Thanks for all your comments.

# Anonymous @ 10.18pm

I agree we are in a bit of a mess to say the least .. and Scotland is suffering quite badly itself due to a less than glowing political opposition, which, in a much more robust form than exists currently, is crucial for the functioning of a transparent accountable democracy.

# Anonymous @ 12.32pm

I agree entirely .. this plague of self regulation must be ended, across the professions, politics and public life.

It is as many say, a thieves charter.

# Anonymous @ 3.02pm

I agree entirely .. and more campaigning is needed to bring the issue to public attention .. just as much as the public are now aware that self regulation has allowed politicians of all parties, including Mr Salmond, to line their own pockets at our expense.

Anonymous said...

Ex HBOS Chief goes to Boots ! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8089013.stm

Just look at how these people perpetuate themselves !! Ruin the bloody country and end up with another highly paid job ! Disgusting

Anonymous said...

Peter you said

"I agree we are in a bit of a mess to say the least .. and Scotland is suffering quite badly itself due to a less than glowing political opposition, which, in a much more robust form than exists currently, is crucial for the functioning of a transparent accountable democracy".

Exactly Peter, that is how Thatcher got her poll tax, community charge through, due to a weak opposiion at Westminster. As you know her persistence over this issue triggered her downfall. Radical policies could be halted by a Bill of Rights, instead of conventions etc, which keep things favouring the state rather than the public.

Perhaps we could arrange rallies, to let the public know what is going on. In the wake of the expenses scandal people would want to know what is happening.